Sep 23, 2006
Ramadan kareem
Ramadan Kareem everyone! That’s the typical greeting here during the holy month of Ramadan which started today. During Ramadan, muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and they don’t even drink anything or smoke. It’s an effort to purify the mind and the body so that more effort is put into the individual’s relationship with God. This means that restaurants are closed during the day, and you are not allowed to be seen outside in public eating or drinking during the day. At work it means that coffee makers, water fountains and anything else drink or food related has been taken away, and staff can only eat in the staff coffee room. Working hours are also cut, and many businesses are open from 9 or 10 to just after lunch.
In my hometown’s paper in Sweden, 29 year old Said Hassan says he’s happy Ramadan is here. He says he’s longed for this day for eleven long months, and he’s counting on being tired during the days but the solution is to take a nap during the day. The tiredness is more than made up by the satisfaction to celebrate Ramdan. “To not eat or drink, that is good for my health, for my stomach”, says Said. He gets up around four in the morning in order to eat a good meal before the sun comes up. During the evening he eats several times, different types of food each time.